Chestnut Hill Tour Part 4
Ancient & Modern Chestnut Hill
A New Era
With automobiles becoming more widely available by the mid-20th century, people of Chestnut Hill found themselves freer to travel about the region without being tied down to a train schedule. This meant that the true suburban communities outside the city limits could lure shoppers with large malls and plenty of free parking. Chestnut Hill was also feeling pressure from increasing city taxes and urban blight just to the south in nearby Mt. Airy and Germantown. Crime, both real and perceived, was making longtime residents of the Hill rethink city living. Through it all Chestnut Hill held its own and has emerged as a truly exemplary urban enclave with a thriving shopping district at its core. At the beginning of the 21st century there is a renewed interest in rehabbing long neglecting neighboring communities. Although Chestnut Hill is not without its problems, it continues to this day as a successful example of suburban style living completely within the limits of a major American city.
One interesting aspect of 20th century architecture in Chestnut Hill is that a community so conservative in its approach to societal order and taste in housing style was a leader in mid-century Modernism. Cutting edge architects like Louis I. Kahn (1901-1974) and Robert C. Venturi (b. 1925) designed iconic homes in Chestnut Hill, not far from where Dr. Woodward and Henry Houston built their Traditional American and Old-Europe inspired communities. Another leader in American Modernism, George Howe (1886-1955), lived in Chestnut Hill, although his self-designed home of High Hollow (see part one of the tour) is in the traditional European mold. He would leave the firm of Mellor, Meigs & Howe to team up with William Lescaze (1896-1969) and design the Philadelphia Savings Fund Society (PSFS) Bank Tower in 1932, the first Modern skyscraper in the world. And this was at a time when many Philadelphians were clinging to the Colonial Revival style! This goes to show, that even though Chestnut Hillers were still living in a bygone era, some still had an eye to the future.
-JMM
To be continued.
Ardleigh Street
7827 Ardleigh Street
Row of twins on Ardleigh Street
Large twins on Ardleigh Street
Chestnut Hill Water Tower Recreation Center
Once standing over 125' tall (with its original wooden water tank) the 1859 tower still stands as a prominent landmark.
Gravers Lane East
Gravers Lane Station
Built: 1883
Client: Reading Rail Road Company
Location: Graver Lane near Anderson Street
Architects: Furness & Evans
One of the early train stations that transformed Chestnut Hill from a sleepy village to a railroad suburb for the rich.
245 E. Gravers Lane
230 E. Gravers Lane
John C. Sidney House
Built: c. 1867
Client: John C. Sidney
Location: 491 E. Gravers Lane
Architects: Probably Sidney & Merry
Although the architect(s) for this house are unknown, it is safe to assume that John Sidney, a partner at the firm of Sidney & Merry, was the architect of record.
Gravers Lane West
21-23 W. Gravers Lane, built c. 1850.
37 W. Gravers Lane, built before 1855. Thomas Dixon, the original owner sold the property to William S. Fisher in 1855. Fisher was a carpenter, a useful trade in Chestnut Hill's gateway village days.
113 W. Gravers Lane
Crowley-Riley House
Built: c. 1871
Client: Timothy Crowley
Location: 226 W. Gravers Lane
Architect: Unknown
Timothy Crowley, a laborer, only held on to the house for about five years before selling it to Joseph J. Riley in 1875.
View of Crowley-Riley House from Millman Street
Mermaid Lane East
The original Mermaid Inn, built c. 1795, was demolished. The present structure pictured here is an early 20th century replacement.
The Quaker Meetinghouse on Mermaid Lane
Millman Street
Charles Woodward Residence
Built: 1939
Client: Charles Woodward
Location: 8220 Millman Street
Architect: Kenneth Day
Vanna Venturi House
Built: 1963
Client: Vanna Venturi
Location: 8330 Millman Street
Architect: Venturi & Short
Moreland Avenue East
Old auto garage dating from 1920.
Sunrise Lane
The Esherick House
Built: 1961
Client: Margaret Esherick
Location: 204 Sunrise Lane
Architect: Louis I. Kahn
Louis Kahn's Modernist masterpiece sits on a quiet lane near Pastorius Park. Last year it was offered at auction but received no takers with an opening price of $2 million.
Watterman Avenue
Waterman Avenue near Valley View Road
Germantown Avenue
Hiram Lodge
Built: 1859
Client: Charles Heebner
Location: 8217-8219 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Only the third floor was occupied by the Hiram Lodge in 1859, at which time it was known as Masonic Hall. The Hiram Lodge, one of the oldest in the country, was established in 1800. The second floor was a public meeting hall in which the Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church held its services. The first floor was Orlando S. Styers's grocery. Evidently now they are a rug store.
Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church
Built: 1871
Client: Frank Streeper
Location: 8300 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Charles M. Burns
According to Hotchkin, the bell in the bell-gable was from the Mower United States General Hospital which was also in Chestnut Hill. The Mower Hospital occupied a 27 acres tract of land and was built for the Civil War. It was demolished shortly after its resolution. Prior to the construction of this church, Lutherans held their services in Hiram Lodge (above).
Peters House
Built: c. 1784
Client: John Peters
Location: 8132-8134 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
The Peters House is presently home to the Stagecrafters Playhouse. Dr. Tinkcom states the some features indicate a colonial era construction.
Barn behind the Peters House
First Baptist Church
Built: 1857, additions and alterations 1874
Client: First Baptist Church
Location: Germantown Avenue and Bethlehem Pike
Architect: Unknown
On the site where the church now sits was once a marbleyard owned by Henry S. Lentz. Lentz went into the field of homeopathy and sold the land to Israel Gilbert who deeded the land to the church in 1835. The façade of the present structure plus Hiram Lodge are two of the few examples of the Classical Revival Style in Chestnut Hill, despite Philadelphia being a leading exponent of the style among American cities.
View from Bethlehem Pike
Masonic Building
Built: 1889, additions and alterations
Client: Knights of Pythias
Location: 8427 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Cress Hotel
Built: c. 1795, additions and alterations
Client: Mrs. Henry Cress
Location: 8501 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
The original Cress Hotel was burned to the ground by the British during the American Revolution. Cress's widow petitioned Congress for compensation resulting in the current building. During the 1820s, under the ownership of Jacob Peters, it was known as the Eagle Hotel and was an important stop for stage coaches. Sometime during the early 1900s the hotel was shortened from nine bays to eight. In 1952 it was remodeled to accommodate a flower shop.
Hill House
Built: c. 1798, additions and alterations
Client: Wigard Miller
Location: 8617 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
This house sits on land owned by Wigard Miller and his heirs from 1750 to 1844. In 1950 Hill Hardware Co. bought the house. Apparently that name stuck.
Bank Building
Built: 1928
Client: Germantown Trust Company
Location: 8527-8529 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Arthur H. Brockie
Here is a very good Colonial Revival building that sits on the corner of W. Evergreen Avenue and Germantown Avenue.
A Second Empire storefront on the corner of Evergreen Avenue and Germantown Avenue
Streeper's Drug Store
Built: 1892
Client: Frank Streeper
Location: 8528 Germantown Avenue
Architect: George T. Pearson (attributed)
Abraham Rex's Store
Built: 1762
Client: Abraham Rex
Location: 8031 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
8031 Germantown Avenue was the principal store in Chestnut Hill during the latter half of the 1700s. Rex sold the store to Matthias Hass in 1836.
Chestnut Hill Hotel
Built: 1894, alterations 1958
Client: Unknown
Location: 8223-8229 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
There has always been just one hotel in Chestnut Hill and that has been the Chestnut Hill Hotel at Germantown and Southampton Avenue. At one time it was a thriving stage coach inn and its land extended all the way back to the Chestnut Hill Water Works at present day Ardleigh Street. It's Victorian essence was removed in 1957-1958 in favor of a Colonial Revival flavor.
Wigard Jacoby Residence
Built: c. 1794, additions/alterations 1911 and 1948
Client: Wigard Jacoby
Location: 8327 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Redheffer House
Built: early 1800s
Client: Charles Redheffer
Location: 8419 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Charles Redheffer was famous for operating a "perpetual motion" machine here around 1812.
Parke Residence
Built: 1921
Client: Matthew D. Parke
Location: 8431 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Another example of the Colonial Revival Style that was quite popular in America in the 1920s.
Sign of the Swan
Built: c. 1740
Client: John Sheppard
Location: 8433 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
The Sign of the Swan was an inn kept by John Sheppard around 1740. In 1783 it was known as the Bonny Jockey. Around 1840 it was the Stag Inn.
Artman-Miller House
Built: after 1759
Client: Martin Ardman
Location: 8607-8609 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
This building staying in the Artman and Miller families until 1915.
Hein Residence
Built: 1850
Client: Esther Hein
Location: 7833 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
7837-7841 Germantown Avenue. This row of houses was built c. 1850. Jacob L. Hinkel lived at 7837, now the Wissahickon Cyclery.
Buckenhorst Residence
Built: c. 1860
Client: Henry C. Buckenhorst
Location: 7823-7827 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
The houses were built for the nurses working at the Mower General Hospital during the Civil War.
8119 Germantown Avenue, a simple vernacular structure, now home to Lavender Hill Gardens
8121 Germantown Avenue, built on property owned by Hans George Rex c. 1743
7821-7819 Germantown Avenue, built 1904 for James F. Menough.
Philadelphia Electric Company
Built: 1915
Client: Philadelphia Electric Company
Location: 7745 Germantown Avenue
Architect: John T. Windrim
Rex Building
Built: 1845, façade 1929
Client: Venetian Club
Location: 8030 Germantown Avenue
Architects: John Graham, Jr.
Simple homes on the lower end of Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill
8125-8127 Germantown Avenue
8129-8133 Germantown Avenue
Wyndmoore Building
Built: 1895
Client: Charles Snyder
Location: 7942 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Woodmere Art Gallery
Built: before 1867, tower added after 1876
Client: Isabel O. Childs
Location: 9201 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
The tower with the mansard roof was added while the house was under the Sheppard family ownership between 1876 and 1898.
Norwood Academy
Built: 1850
Client: Charles Taylor
Location: 8891 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Sidney & Neff
Kneedler Residence
Built: 1855
Client: Jesse Kneedler
Location: 8864 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Sidney & Neff
Presbyterian Church of Chestnut Hill, 1950
Residence
Built: 1850
Client: Unknown
Location: 8836 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Marsden Residence
Built: 1903
Client: Julia H. Marsden
Location: 8811 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Charles B. Keen
Mitchell Villa
Built: 1857
Client: Joseph E. Mitchell
Location: 8708 Germantown Avenue
Architect: Eugene V. Bathmaier
This Gothic Revival villa is now home to the Chestnut Hill Historical Society.
Edgehill
Built: 1853
Client: Thomas Earp, Jr.
Location: 1 E. Sunset Avenue
Architect: Unknown
Germantown Avenue Bridge over the Wissahickon Creek (2003)
Chestnut Hill College
Built: 1922
Client: Sisters of St. Joseph Academy
Location: Germantown Avenue at Northwestern Avenue
Architect: Henry D. Dagit & Sons
End of Part Four
You are so knowledgeable!
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